2013 – Pakistan’s year of cricket

2013 was indeed a victorious year for Pakistan Cricket and its players as they made several records during the calendar year. Let’s take a glimpse at the highlights of Pakistan Cricket in 2013.

The team won seven bilateral series including ODI and Test, which is the most they have bagged in a year. Pakistan became the first team in history to win an ODI series in South Africa whereas the team’s performance in ICC Champions Trophy 2013 was one of the most disappointing as the team was the first Champion to be eliminated from the competition.

Misbah ul Haq remained by far was the most successful contributor to the batting department whereas leg spinner Saeed Ajmal was the best bowler for the Green Shirts this year.

Misbah became the highest run scorer in the calendar year with 1373 runs . Mohammad Hafeez was the second highest runs scorer with 1301 ODI runs and is the highest he has scored ever. It is the second time in three years that he has contributed 1000 plus runs in a year. In 2011, he made 1075 runs with an average of 37.06 in 32 matches in 2011.

Left arm pacer Junaid Khan became the second highest wicket taker in a series for Pakistan as he took 13 wickets in the series against Sri Lanka. Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, with 15 wickets in the series against India in 2004-2005, is sill the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in any bilateral series.

Emerging talent in the team was seen heading Pakistani team to the ways to victory. Bilawal Bhatti performed with the bat and ball in the series against South Africa at their home ground. Sohaib Maqsood has contributed in the bat by playing exquisite shots. Shan Masood made a century against the South Africans in United Arab Emirates.

With the new emerging talent and the senior players playing their role in the team, we hope that the Green Shirts will be looking to improve their performance in 2014 too.